Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Iquique Cost of Living Comparison Between La Serena and Iquique

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,044 in La Serena versus $1,026 in Iquique.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,757 in La Serena versus $1,702 in Iquique.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,469 in La Serena versus $2,377 in Iquique.

Living in La Serena is roughly 2% more expensive than in Iquique, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: La Serena 22% lower, Iquique 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.00 CLP 7,448

$8.01 CLP 7,463

-0.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 CLP 47.2K

$43.94 CLP 40.9K

15.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 CLP 8,256

$7.21 CLP 6,718

23.02%

Cappuccino

$3.09 CLP 2,879

$3.58 CLP 3,336

-13.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 CLP 1,027

$1.35 CLP 1,258

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 CLP 670

$1.02 CLP 951

-29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 CLP 1,990

$3.48 CLP 3,244

-38.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 CLP 3,680

$3.71 CLP 3,456

6.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 CLP 1,214

$1.20 CLP 1,119

8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 CLP 2,396

$1.22 CLP 1,138

110.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CLP 1,437

$1.41 CLP 1,313

9.22%

Eggs

$3.95 CLP 3,678

$3.47 CLP 3,227

13.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.84 CLP 12.0K

$10.42 CLP 9,703

23.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 CLP 5,638

$6.65 CLP 6,196

-9.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 CLP 12.6K

$10.81 CLP 10.1K

25.25%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 CLP 1,839

$1.89 CLP 1,759

4.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 CLP 1,661

$2.39 CLP 2,223

-25.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 CLP 1,296

$1.55 CLP 1,442

-10.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 CLP 1,441

$1.12 CLP 1,042

38.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 CLP 1,103

$0.82 CLP 767

43.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,216

$0.67 CLP 622

95.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 CLP 999

$1.25 CLP 1,168

-14.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 CLP 891

$1.18 CLP 1,095

-18.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 CLP 5,085

$5.45 CLP 5,071

0.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.46 CLP 5,082

$8.20 CLP 7,636

-33.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 CLP 968

$1.54 CLP 1,434

-32.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 CLP 2,072

$2.30 CLP 2,138

-3.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 CLP 981

$0.67 CLP 620

56.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.37 CLP 34.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 CLP 670

$0.47 CLP 435

53.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 CLP 1,978

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.70 CLP 11.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 CLP 1,344

$1.44 CLP 1,341

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.9K CLP 19.5M

$19.8K CLP 18.4M

5.88%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$12.8K CLP 11.9M

$21.3K CLP 19.8M

-39.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.6 CLP 85.3K

$81.7 CLP 76.1K

12.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.51 CLP 10.7K

$13.37 CLP 12.5K

-13.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.61 CLP 21.1K

$21.65 CLP 20.2K

4.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.97 CLP 33.5K

$42.71 CLP 39.8K

-15.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.67 CLP 20.2K

$21.02 CLP 19.6K

3.09%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 CLP 8,137

$5.80 CLP 5,397

50.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$428 CLP 398.9K

$440 CLP 409.8K

-2.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.25 CLP 42.1K

$31.76 CLP 29.6K

42.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.18 CLP 28.1K

$24.53 CLP 22.8K

23.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 CLP 90.3K

$48.65 CLP 45.3K

99.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 CLP 102.4K

$61.4 CLP 57.2K

79.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 CLP 338.1K

$438 CLP 408.0K

-17.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 CLP 265.0K

$397 CLP 369.5K

-28.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 CLP 993.7K

$757 CLP 705.4K

40.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 CLP 660.0K

$842 CLP 784.5K

-15.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,151 CLP 2.0M

$1,812 CLP 1.7M

18.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 CLP 1.3M

$2,077 CLP 1.9M

-33.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$736 CLP 685.1K

$1,004 CLP 934.9K

-26.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

7.5

-13.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for La Serena: July 11, 2026

Last update for Iquique: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in La Serena and $438 in Iquique. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquique pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $51.0 in La Serena vs $44.00 in Iquique for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $228 per month, with Iquique cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

La Serena vs Iquique: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Serena and Iquique differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,044 vs $1,026 including rent). Iquique is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 36% lower in Iquique. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $363 in La Serena versus $438 in Iquique. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in La Serena. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,044 per month in La Serena versus $1,026 in Iquique – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,026 in Iquique versus $1,044 in La Serena, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Iquique but tight or insufficient in La Serena. The gap between the two cities makes Iquique the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Iquique gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in La Serena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.